Lucknow: In the backdrop of row surrounding conversion programmes, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued detailed directives to all the sensitive districts of the state asking their police chiefs to deal 'sternly' with all those harming peace and order.

"Detailed directives have been issued after an important meeting chaired by Principal Secretary (Home), Devashish Panda and other senior officers with the police chiefs of all the sensitive districts through video conferencing," Inspector General (law and order) A Satish Ganesh said.

The police chiefs have been issued strict directives to ensure that law and order is not disturbed because of conversion programmes, the IG said.

He said that police have been asked to deal sternly with those disturbing law and order.

"They have been asked to deal sternly with all those harming peace and order," the IG said adding that the police heads of Aligarh and Ghazipur, which were in news recently over conversion programmes, have been given special directives.

On December 8, in Agra, at least 100 persons from 37 families were reportedly re-converted to Hinduism at a ceremony organized by an offshoot of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The incident led to uproar in Parliament with a united opposition stalling Rajya Sabha and pressing for a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.